In the early 1870s, Hubert H. Bancroft and his assistants set out to record the memoirs of early Californios, one of them being eighty-three-year-old Don José María Amador, a former “Forty-Niner” during the California Gold Rush and soldado de cuera at the Presidio of San Francisco. Amador tells of reconnoitering expeditions into the interior of California, where he encountered local indigenous populations. He speaks of political events of Mexican California and the widespread confiscation of the Californios’ goods, livestock, and properties when the United States took control. A friend from Mission Santa Cruz, Lorenzo Asisara, also describes the harsh life and mistreatment the Indians faced from the priests. Both the Amador and Asisara narratives were used as sources in Bancroft’s writing but never published themselves. Gregorio Mora-Torres has now rescued them from obscurity and presents their voices in English translation (with annotations) and in the original Spanish on facing pages. This bilingual edition will be of great interest to historians of the West, California, and Mexican American studies. “This book presents a very convincing and interesting narrative about Mexican California. Its frankness and honesty are refreshing.”–Richard Griswold del Castillo, San Diego State University

Interview with James W. Huffman, a Navy WWII veteran and POW from Los Angeles, California, who survived the sinking of the USS Houston (CA-30). Huffman discusses joining the Navy; service aboard the Houston and changes in training as war neared; early operations in the war; the Battle of Sundra Strait and sinking; surviving in Java; capture by the Japanese; various experiences in internment at Bicycle Camp in Batavia, Changi Camp in Singapore, Thanbyuzayat, several camps on the Burma Railway, and Tamarkan in Thailand; and liberation.

Interview with David Thomas, a Marine WWII veteran from Takio, Missouri, who was at the Attack on Pearl Harbor. Thomas discusses joining the Marine Corps in 1940, assignment to Kaneohe Naval Air Station, life and work there, the attack on December 7th, the immediate aftermath, casualties and damage to Kaneohe, leaving the Marines to attempt becoming a naval aviator, and being drafted into the Army as a bomber navigator.

Interview with Garlen W. Eslick, a Navy WWII veteran from Milan, Missouri who served aboard the USS Oklahoma (BB-37) when it was sunk at Pearl Harbor. Eslick discusses joining the Navy and basic training, assignment to the Oklahoma, accommodations aboard, the food, the crew, liberty, being bombed and torpedoed, the Oklahoma capsizing, being trapped inside the ship, rescue, work after the attack, and service aboard the Saratoga (CV-3).

Interview with Rebecca H. Bishop, a USMC Iraq War veteran from Los Angeles, California. Bishop discusses choosing to become a Marine Corps officer, attending the Naval Academy, being a female in the Corps, experiences and combat in Iraq in 2005-06, life as a Marine parent, attending Army Airborne School, the Advanced Degree Program and graduate school, leadership and decision making, the relationship between enlisted and officers, women in combat, plans for the future, and some general reflections. An appendix includes a short chronology of Bishop's military career.

Transcript of an interview with Nina Bermejo, a Mexican-American woman concerning her childhood memories of living in California and Texas; of living in a military household and the diversity found on military bases; of her early school life; attending college; and having a family.

Transcript of an interview with Ralph W. Nelson, a Navy veteran, concerning his experiences while aboard the submarines USS Batfish and USS Parche in the Pacific Theater during World War II. Submarine School, San Francisco, California, 1942; early torpedo problems; his responsibilities as a fire controlman; assignment to the Batfish, 1944; various patrols in the Luzon Strait and Makassar Strait; lifeguard duty off Palau for downed airmen; transfer to the Parche, 1945.